Is A Drug Addiction Treatment Ban Responsible for Dying Ukrainians?

In January, it was reported that around 100 drug abuse patients in the formerly Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea had died because the substitution treatment they had been undergoing was now illegal under newly placed Russian laws. This is only a small percentage of the estimated 800 drug users in Crimea who were undergoing the treatment.

There are some activists who believe the number of patients who died under new drug treatment laws could be even higher.

Substitution treatment is a program that allows those who are addicted to heroin or any other form of opiates to instead take methadone or Buprenorphine as a safer, more gradual way to conquer an addiction. Using these drugs also keeps a patient from injecting opiates, thus drastically lowering their risk of contracting infections or spreading the HIV virus.

This approach to drug treatment had the effect of decriminalizing drug use, making it a bit easier for drug addicts to lead normal lives while still receiving treatment. Substitute treatment programs are widespread and legal in many countries.

It became an option for opiate addiction treatment in the Ukraine in 2005, with around 8,700 patients in the Ukraine and Crimea reported on the treatment plan in 2014.

After Russia annexed the peninsula in the Spring of 2014, the practice of treating drug addiction with substitution therapy was immediately halted despite the fact that other Crimean laws were allowed to gradually be phased out. This type of therapy is illegal under Russian law, where a much different approach to treating drug addiction is used instead.

Addicts are required to quit cold turkey and undergo medical detoxes that often put their health and lives in danger. Russian authorities quickly began shutting down the substitution therapy programs all across Crimea.

Many patients who were undergoing therapy in Crimea fled the peninsula for nearby Ukraine, where the therapy was still legal. Other patients were not able to leave their homes or families or were otherwise too afraid to make the journey.

Many of the patients who stayed behind in Crimea died in the Russian detox centers or returned to using heroin and other opiates.

Substitution therapy is recognized by several international health organizations as an effective way to treat opiate addiction. An abrupt halt in treatment, like the one imposed on patients in Crimea, causes an individual to shift from living a relatively stable life, to return to being physically and emotionally dependent on drugs.

The head of Russia's drug control agency says that there is no proof that substitution therapy works and that the therapy had even caused a number of deaths among patients. The Russians' view of therapy has remained steadfast, even in the face of protests from activists and health experts.

There is no way of telling whether the estimate of deaths due to the abrupt halt of substitution treatment by the Russians is even accurate. The information was released by Russian sources who are likely trying to downplay the situation.

East of the Ukraine, pro Russian rebels control several areas where there are even more patients who are at risk of losing their access to therapy. In those regions, there are an estimated 550 patients currently undergoing the treatment.

Ukrainian activists are working hard to ensure people there can still get access to the methadone they need so that what happened in Crimea will not happen again.

Comment Via Facebook

Barbara, writes:
Hi Cindy, I am reaching out today on behalf of my son. He has been struggling with drinking for a while now, and lately things have been getting worse. Last night, I received a call from him, and he was in a broken state of mind. He had realized how his drinking has been negatively affecting his life, and the toll is has taken on him. His job,his relationships, and his life are in jeopardy as a result of alcohol. He realizes that he can no longer go on this way, and last night he took the first step of reaching out for help. As a mother I will always be there for my son to help him any way I can, so I am reaching out to you. Please help me help my son.

Cindy writes:
Barbara, first of all thank you for reaching out. For many of us, sometimes the hardest step to take is to admit that we have a problem, and to reach out for help. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help, and I am glad to hear that your son has already made that step. As a mother myself, I can relate to what you are going through, and understand how addiction affects the entire family. Your son said that he could not go on this way, so now is the time to get in the solution. Most people struggling with addiction from Opiates (pain medication) as well as alcohol do need a period of detoxification. This will ensure that they safely transition off of the substances. Once medically stable, your son could begin the therapeutic side of the treatment process. Here, he would begin addressing the behavior and thinking patterns that directly contribute to the substance abuse. Everyone who struggles with addiction deserves the chance to recover. We are here to help, and to make sure your son has the best chance possible for recovery.

Troy from Nashville, TN writes:
Hi Cindy, I found out, probably a week and a half ago, that my son was doing Meth pretty heavily. He has flunked out of college, and is living with his girlfriend. I was hearing rumors about him using Meth, and had hoped it was just a one time thing, well it’s not. When I confronted him about it, he seemed delusional. He was telling me how he was seeing bugs coming out of his skin, hearing voices, and he went on telling me about conspiracies involving alien life forms. He is convinced that everyone is infected with parasites, and is even talking about drinking ammonia to kill these “parasites”. I have tried to get through to him, but I can’t seem to reach him. I know that if we don’t do something soon, I will lose him. I am afraid for my son’s life, and I know that something has to be done fast.

Cindy writes:
Hi Troy, thank you for writing in. I know this has to be tough for you to see your son being held captive by such a powerful drug. When Meth gets a hold of someone, it does not let go easily. Unfortunately, right now, the Meth has a hold of your son. You are correct when you say that something has to be done soon. You talked about when you spoke to your son, how he was very delusional, how he talked about seeing bugs and hearing voices. That person you spoke to was not your son, you were speaking to the drug. Your son is absent, but not gone. There are options available to help get your son back. An intervention could be a great starting point.This would give your son the opportunity to take to the first step, and accept the help he so desperately needs. Along with a period of detoxification, your son could then begin the treatment process. There is hope for your son, and with the right treatment plan, recovery is possible.